You switched on your OnePlus 13's personal hotspot to get a laptop, tablet, or console online, but the second device cannot see the network, keeps rejecting the password, or connects for a moment and then drops. It is a particularly frustrating fault because the phone itself still has working mobile data, so the breakdown sits somewhere between your plan, your hotspot settings, and the device trying to join.
Before going further, a quick note on the name. Many people search for a "OnePlus 13 Pro," but OnePlus does not sell a Pro model in this generation; the current flagship is the OnePlus 13, and every step below applies to it. The phone ships on OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15 (with later OxygenOS updates delivered over the air), supports Wi-Fi 7, 6, and 5 plus 5G, and shares its connection through Settings > Connection & sharing. Work through these fixes in order, starting with the safest checks and saving the resets for last.
Make sure your plan actually allows tethering
A mobile hotspot runs on your cellular data, and not every plan includes tethering. Google's official Android guidance notes that some mobile carriers limit or charge extra for tethering and recommends checking with your carrier. If hotspot use is not provisioned on your line, no on-phone setting can switch it on, so confirm this first to avoid chasing a software fault that does not exist.
Toggle the hotspot off and on with mobile data running
The simplest reset often works, but only if mobile data is actually on, since the hotspot shares your mobile data with other devices.
- 1.Confirm mobile data is enabled.
- 2.Open Settings > Connection & sharing > Personal hotspot.
- 3.Turn the hotspot off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
You can also use the Android quick toggle. Swipe down from the top of the screen, touch and hold the Hotspot icon, then turn on Wi-Fi hotspot. The phone can share its connection with up to 10 devices at once, so make sure you are not already at that ceiling.
Re-enter the hotspot name and password
A mistyped password is the single most common reason a device will not join. In Settings > Connection & sharing > Personal hotspot, open Hotspot settings to set the personal hotspot name and password. The manufacturer's guidance is to go to Personal hotspot > Hotspot settings > change the Name and Password, then re-enter the exact password on the connecting device, watching for case sensitivity and easily confused characters.
Refresh the radios with Airplane mode
Toggling Airplane mode forces the phone's mobile radios to reconnect, which clears many temporary registration glitches. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open quick settings and tap the Airplane mode icon, or find Airplane mode in Settings. Turn it on for about 10 seconds, turn it off, let mobile data reconnect fully, then start the hotspot again.
Turn off Use Wi-Fi 6 so older devices can see the network
Older laptops, consoles, and smart-home gadgets sometimes cannot detect a newer-band hotspot. The official manual flags this under the Use Wi-Fi 6 option, noting that a "Hotspot using Wi-Fi 6 may not be found in some old device models." In Personal hotspot, turn off Use Wi-Fi 6 (and pick the 2.4 GHz band if that choice is offered) for the widest compatibility, then have the other device search again.
Check connection limits, the blocklist, and the auto-off timer
The hotspot may be working exactly as configured, just not the way you expect. Inside Personal hotspot, open Connection management, where "Blocklist, device connection limit and data usage limit can be set," and confirm the device you are adding is not blocked and that no limit has been reached. Also review Automatically turn off personal hotspot, which switches the hotspot off "when no devices are connected for 10 minutes"; that timer often explains a hotspot that seems to drop on its own.
Fall back to Bluetooth or USB tethering
If the Wi-Fi hotspot still refuses to cooperate, the OnePlus 13 offers other ways to share its connection under Connection & sharing. Bluetooth tethering shares your phone's mobile data with a paired device, and USB tethering shares the connection over a USB cable; Ethernet tethering is available too. If one of these works, you have confirmed the problem is specific to the Wi-Fi hotspot rather than your data or your plan.
Restart the OnePlus 13, or force a reboot if it is frozen
A normal reboot clears the temporary network state that often breaks tethering.
- 1.Press the power button and volume up button simultaneously, then tap Restart to reboot the device.
- 2.Once it is back on, open Settings > Connection & sharing > Personal hotspot and switch the hotspot on again.
If the hotspot menu hangs or the phone is unresponsive, force a restart instead. Long press the power button and volume up button for 10 seconds until the phone shuts down, then press the power button to turn it on again. Note that this is volume up plus power, not volume down.
Install the latest OxygenOS update
Connectivity bugs are routinely patched in software updates, so an out-of-date build can be the real culprit. Go to Settings > About device > Software update, and the system starts to check for updates; follow the instructions to download and update. Keep the phone on Wi-Fi and charged during the process, then test the hotspot once it restarts.
Reset network settings to clear bad configurations
If a corrupted network profile is blocking the hotspot, resetting just the network settings clears your Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth configurations without erasing personal data. Go to Settings > Additional settings > Back up and reset > Reset phone, where the options are listed as "Reset network settings; Reset all settings; Erase all data (factory reset)." Choose Reset network settings, then set up and start your hotspot again from scratch.
When to factory reset or contact support
A factory reset is the last on-device step and should only be used once everything above has failed, because it erases the phone. Go to Settings > Additional settings > Back up and reset > Reset phone, then tap Reset phone. Heed the official warning first: "Restoring factory settings will wipe all app data, contacts, text messages, and so on. Backup important data before a factory reset."
If the hotspot still fails after a reset, the cause is more likely account provisioning or hardware than a setting. Use the official OnePlus Support site to reach support or check your warranty, and ask your carrier to confirm that hotspot and tethering are provisioned on your line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a OnePlus 13 Pro?
No. OnePlus does not sell a Pro version in this generation; the flagship is the OnePlus 13 (alongside the OnePlus 13R and the India-only OnePlus 13s). If you searched for a "OnePlus 13 Pro," the hotspot steps here apply to your OnePlus 13.
Why does my OnePlus 13 hotspot keep turning itself off?
By design, the phone can switch the hotspot off when no devices are connected for 10 minutes. Check the Automatically turn off personal hotspot option inside Personal hotspot, and review Connection management in case a device connection limit or the blocklist is involved.
My laptop cannot see the hotspot at all. What should I change?
Older devices sometimes cannot detect a Wi-Fi 6 network. In Personal hotspot, turn off Use Wi-Fi 6 (and select the 2.4 GHz band if offered), since the manufacturer notes that a "Hotspot using Wi-Fi 6 may not be found in some old device models," then search again.
Will resetting network settings delete my photos and apps?
No. Reset network settings only clears Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth configurations and leaves your personal data in place. A full factory reset is the only option that wipes app data, contacts, and messages, so back up your data before using that.
